Pricing for maintenance service
#1
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Pricing for maintenance service
I'm just about to get the 15,000 mile service on my '04 GX 470.
When I read the service manual that came with the car, this term's service looks like a glorified oil change and tire rotation/balance.
The local dealer wants $350+ for this.
Is there any reason why I shouldn't visit a local authorized Lexus repair shop and have this done for less than $100?? (Other than me liking to throw away money)
When I read the service manual that came with the car, this term's service looks like a glorified oil change and tire rotation/balance.
The local dealer wants $350+ for this.
Is there any reason why I shouldn't visit a local authorized Lexus repair shop and have this done for less than $100?? (Other than me liking to throw away money)
#2
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Originally Posted by atlg8r
I'm just about to get the 15,000 mile service on my '04 GX 470.
When I read the service manual that came with the car, this term's service looks like a glorified oil change and tire rotation/balance.
The local dealer wants $350+ for this.
Is there any reason why I shouldn't visit a local authorized Lexus repair shop and have this done for less than $100?? (Other than me liking to throw away money)
When I read the service manual that came with the car, this term's service looks like a glorified oil change and tire rotation/balance.
The local dealer wants $350+ for this.
Is there any reason why I shouldn't visit a local authorized Lexus repair shop and have this done for less than $100?? (Other than me liking to throw away money)
#3
Yes, your suspicions are correct. The dealer is trying to scam you, most likely by throwing in unecessary and pricey service items into the 15K service (e.g., transmission and differential fluid change). I started a thread on this about a month ago. The good news is that you caught this before you took it in for the the 15K, unlike myself My dealer actually charged $450 for the 15K, and others have seen even higher prices.
#5
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skip it, go in when you hit 30k just get an oil change and tire roatation, check out your local Toyota dealer, they usually have their price half of what Lexus wants
I asked Lexus why they have maintenance intervals at 15k, 30k, 45k, 60k, 90k, 120k, odd how it goes from every 15k to 30k, the dealers like to milk the owners while the cars are new
I asked Lexus why they have maintenance intervals at 15k, 30k, 45k, 60k, 90k, 120k, odd how it goes from every 15k to 30k, the dealers like to milk the owners while the cars are new
#6
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Originally Posted by Fusion400
Can I get GX470 oil filter from my local Toyota dealer if I choose to DIY instead of lexus? They should have the same oil filter part number as 4Runner right?
#7
My 15,000 mile service expirience
I armed myself with some of the tips gleaned from this thread, and thought I'd catch my dealer on a few spots. However, they printed their standard 15,000 service, and it did not include changing diff or tranny fluids. They did change A/C filter, and charge $180 labor because it's 1.5 hours for the tech. My parts were $90, and with tax, got billed for $288.
Oh, and after I left, noticed my left front headlight out...(Shi!!!) My XenonDepot HID kit! They told me the clip had broken and the whole thing had to come out. $116 later I've got the frickin factory bulbs back in...(I have misplaced the originals, and couldn't risk days of driving around with no headlights...).
I am definitely going to use the Toyota service dept in the dealership right next door from here on out.
Oh, and after I left, noticed my left front headlight out...(Shi!!!) My XenonDepot HID kit! They told me the clip had broken and the whole thing had to come out. $116 later I've got the frickin factory bulbs back in...(I have misplaced the originals, and couldn't risk days of driving around with no headlights...).
I am definitely going to use the Toyota service dept in the dealership right next door from here on out.
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#8
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H I D's
Originally Posted by Solomoan
Oh, and after I left, noticed my left front headlight out...(Shi!!!) My XenonDepot HID kit! They told me the clip had broken and the whole thing had to come out. $116 later I've got the frickin factory bulbs back in...(I have misplaced the originals, and couldn't risk days of driving around with no headlights...).
The ProXenon HIDs are 100% Plug and Play and each side is completely separate.
Under the same circumstances, all you would have had to do, is remove the HID bulb and replace it with an OEM. Then plug the original OEM Plug into the bulb socket.
~ Cap
#9
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Originally Posted by Solomoan
I .
They did change A/C filter, and charge $180 labor because it's 1.5 hours for the tech. My parts were $90, and with tax, got billed for $288.
y:
They did change A/C filter, and charge $180 labor because it's 1.5 hours for the tech. My parts were $90, and with tax, got billed for $288.
y:
#12
Clarification
The $180 labor charge was for the 15,000 mile servicing, which included:
-tire rotation (I marked the tires to make sure this was done).
-changing oil/oil filter
-changing a/c filter
-lubing chassis
-visual 30 point inspection (which is what really pissed me off as they checked off that the headlights were in working order).
The two filters were billed at $36 & $38 respectively.
There was also a mysterious "miscellaneous shop supply" charge of $20 that I just noticed.
I'm chalking this up to a "lesson learned", realizing that I was the chump on this one, but vow that it won't happen again.
-tire rotation (I marked the tires to make sure this was done).
-changing oil/oil filter
-changing a/c filter
-lubing chassis
-visual 30 point inspection (which is what really pissed me off as they checked off that the headlights were in working order).
The two filters were billed at $36 & $38 respectively.
There was also a mysterious "miscellaneous shop supply" charge of $20 that I just noticed.
I'm chalking this up to a "lesson learned", realizing that I was the chump on this one, but vow that it won't happen again.
#13
I'm not sure if I would skip any scheduled service, and if I did do some service myself or using a non-Lexus shop, I would keep meticulous records. At a Lexus Owners Clinic recently, the service manager warned that the Lexus warranty applies only if the owner maintains the car as recommended. He said using only Lexus dealers for service is better if you ever need warranty work since all work at Lexus dealers nationwide are hooked into a national database, which can easily be looked up, and Lexus dealers only use Lexus-quality parts.. If you go outside the Lexus network, then you have to show that the car was properly maintained (at least the part that is broken). Using non-Lexus parts may also raise some inquiries. I have no idea whether a skipped oil change or using a cheap no-name oil filter is grounds for a warranty denial for, say, premature engine breakdown, but I thought I'd pass along his comments, for what it's worth.
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Originally Posted by et415
I'm not sure if I would skip any scheduled service, and if I did do some service myself or using a non-Lexus shop, I would keep meticulous records. At a Lexus Owners Clinic recently, the service manager warned that the Lexus warranty applies only if the owner maintains the car as recommended. He said using only Lexus dealers for service is better if you ever need warranty work since all work at Lexus dealers nationwide are hooked into a national database, which can easily be looked up, and Lexus dealers only use Lexus-quality parts.. If you go outside the Lexus network, then you have to show that the car was properly maintained (at least the part that is broken). Using non-Lexus parts may also raise some inquiries. I have no idea whether a skipped oil change or using a cheap no-name oil filter is grounds for a warranty denial for, say, premature engine breakdown, but I thought I'd pass along his comments, for what it's worth.
#15
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The Lexus tech and parts guy was trying to tell me that I should pay for a 90 dollar synthetic oil change every 5k cause synthetic was better, yet they could not tell me why it was better but somehow it's worth more but not better then dino oil, but they don't recommend going longer then 5k then whats the point.
Then somehow the guy starts telling me about the GX 470 and the all aluminum engine, I had to explain to the guy 1st an all aluminum engine has steel sleeves and 2nd that the GX is an iron block.
The service writer have quotas they have to meet, they need to sell $100,000 or more monthly of non warranty items, when I worked as a tech they sold people work they did not even need, really sad that Dealers are allowed to do that, it's basically a crime.
Then somehow the guy starts telling me about the GX 470 and the all aluminum engine, I had to explain to the guy 1st an all aluminum engine has steel sleeves and 2nd that the GX is an iron block.
The service writer have quotas they have to meet, they need to sell $100,000 or more monthly of non warranty items, when I worked as a tech they sold people work they did not even need, really sad that Dealers are allowed to do that, it's basically a crime.